Protective system for a torpedo



y 1962 D. A. COOKE 3,033,148

PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR A TORPEDO Filed NOV. 17, 1953 RECTIFIER E I I I l l l 25 EXPLODER ACOUSTIC SNAKING DETONATING ENABLING SEARCH I cmcurr RELAY RELAY I26 MAIN FIRING MOTOR PULSE I 28 CONTACTORS CIRCUIT & F 4 0 1 0 T 30 UP D 0 I2 0 ELEVATOR RELAY INVENTOR.

DAVID A. COOKE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,033,148 PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR A TORPEDO David A. Cooke, Wallingford, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to. the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy 2 Filed Nov. '17, 1953, Ser. No. 392,785 1 Claim. (Cl. 114-25) The present invention relates to protective systems for torpedoes and has for its primary object the provision of means for terminating the run of the torpedo and rendering inoperative its various components upon the occurrence of anyone or several of a predetermined set of possible events.

The increasing complexity of modern torpedoes, and

more particularly torpedoes of the homing type, necessitates the inclusion in the control system thereof means for disabling the torpedo and its components in the event certain conditions arise. Thus, for example, a torpedo of the homing type is, in the same manner as any conventional torpedo, subject to erratic runs and, in which event, the homing torpedo may become a menace to the launching vessel. It is necessary, therefore, that means be provided in the control system of such a torpedo for eliminating any possibility of the homing torpedo homing on the launching vessel. Further, upon the occurrence of other events such as a power failure, a leak in the torpedo, or various other failures, it is desirable that the torpedo be incapacitated, in the case of an armed torpedo, or that the torpedo be brought to the surface, in the case of a practice torpedo. The present invention provides a protective circuit which may be employed with both armed and exercise torpedoes whereby to cause termination of the torpedo run and incapacitating of the various torpedo components in the event of a salt Water leak, erratic run, power failure, low propulsion battery voltage on exercise runs, excessive depth on exercise runs, circling, and others, and moreover provides means for causing permanent disabling of the torpedo upon the detection of any of the above occurrences.

In accordance with the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protective system for torpedoes. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective system for torpedo for terminating the torpedo run and rendering inoperative the various components thereof upon the happening of one or several of a set of predetermined abnormal events.

A further object is the provision of a protective systern for torpedoes for causing positive disabling of the torpedo upon the detection of a salt water leak, erratic run, power failure, low propulsion battery voltage, excessive depth, circling, and means for terminating the torpedo run at a predetermined time after launching.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a torpedo protective system as in the foregoing wherein a master relay is deenergized upon the occurrence of one or several predetermined abnormal events whereby to render permanently inoperative the torpedo propulsion system and various components of the torpedo.

Other objects and numerous of the advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description had in conjunction with the annexed drawing wherein the single figure illustrates in schematic form the protective system comprising the present invention.

In the drawing, numeral designates a rectifier which receives alternating current from a motor generator set (not shown) which in turn derives its operating power from the torpedo propulsion batteries (not shown). The rectified output current of rectifier 10 serves to operate a master relay 11 comprising a coil 12 in the rectifier output circuit. Relay 11, which may include a plurality of contactors 12a, 12b, 12c, as shown, functions to control the operation of various of the torpedo component circuits several of which are illustrated, for purpose of explanation only inasmuch as the master relay 11 may serve to control any and any number of desired torpedo component circuits. Serially arranged with respect to relay coil 12 are a number of contactors 16a through 2 4a arranged in the manner shown and actuated by relays 16 through 24, respectively, in various component circuits of the torpedo control system. Thus, contactor 16a is actuated by a relay 16 in a timing circuit (not shown) whereby upon a predetermined period of time after the launching of the torpedo, contactor 16a will be actuated to its open position. Contactor 17a is normally retained in its closed position by a relay 17 in electrical circuit with a pressure responsive element (not shown) and upon the torpedo exceeding a predetermined depth contactor 17a is moved to its open position. Similarly, contactor 18a is moved to its open position upon deenergization of relay is resulting from the torpedo propulsion battery voltage dropping below a preset minimum value, contactor 19a is moved to its closed position upon operation of relay 19 after a preset torpedo run, contactor 29a, which serves to prevent the torpedo from homing on the launching vessel, is moved to its open position upon energization of relay 20 owing to a deviation of torpedo headingof a or more from the heading which the torpedo had prior to its launching. Contactor 21a, actuated by relay 21, is moved to its open position after a presettorpedo run, and contactor 22a, which serves to detect erratic runs, is moved to its open position by relay 22 upon deviation of torpedo heading from set course by a predetermined amount. Contactor 23a, functioning as a sealing contactor for relay 11, is moved to its closed position upon energization of relay coil 12 and to its open position upon deenergiaztion of coil 12, while contactor 24a is moved, by operation of relay 2.4, to its open position as the torpedo leaves the launching tube. Sealing contactor 23a is, for the sake of convenience, shown as being actuated by .a relay 23 which may be energized when relay 11 is energized and deenergized when relay 11 is deenergized. In the actual circuit, however, contactor 23a would, in the conventional manner, be directly actuated by relay 11. Shunting the master relay coil 12 is a leak detector comprising a pair of spaced electrodes, which, upon being immersed in salt water, as by leak in the torpedo body, eflfectively short circuits the relay coil 12 thereby causing deenergization of the same.

From the above it will be apparent that any one of the contactors 16a, 17a, 1811,2041, 21a, 22a, 23a or 24a, will be moved to its open position upon the occurrence of the above described events. Upon the opening of any one of contactors 16a, 17a, or 18a it will be seen that relay coil 12 will become deenergized. If, prior to the closing of contactor 1921 after a preset torpedo run, contactor 20a is opened owing to a greater than 170 deviation of torpedo heading from its launching heading, it will be seen that relay 12 will likewise become deenergized. If, however, the torpedo run has exceeded hte preset value for contactor 19a, the latter will have been moved to its closed position and opening of contactor 20a will not result in deenergization of relay coil 12. The range at which contactor 19a is closed is the enabling distance and is generally made so great that the launching vessel will be out of range of the torpedo in the event that it circles. Contactor 21a, moved to its open position after a preset torpedo run, is opened at a relatively short distance as compared with the enabling distance and serves to provide a period of time for the torpedo to get on course after launching. Thus, it upon the opening 3 of contactor 21:: after a short torpedo run, contactor 22a is opened owing to a deviation of the torpedo heading from its instantaneous set course, relay coil 12 will be deenergized. Contactor 23a serves to provide a seal for relay 12 whereby upon energization of the circuit, contactor 2311 will close to maintain relay 12 energized until the opening of one of the above described contactors.

Contaetor 24a, moved to its open position as the torpedoleaves the torpedo tube, is retained in that position whereby upon deenergization of coil 12, and hence opening of contactor 23a, the torpedo will be permanently disabled.

The deenergization of master relay 11 may, for eX- arnple, result in the opening of a contactor 12a causing disabling of an exploder detonating circuit 25, .an acoustic enabling relay 26, and a snaking search circuit 27. A second contactor 12b in a torpedo direct current circuit may, for example, open the main motor contactors 23 whereby to stop the torpedo propulsion motor, and simultaneously incapacitate the DC. firing pulse circuit 29. A third contactor 120 may be moved to its closed position upon deenergization of relay 11 whereby to move the torpedo horizontal control surfaces to their up position so as to bring the torpedo to the surface, in the case of a practice torpedo, or to cause rapid deceleration of an armed torpedo, which, because of its negative buoyancy, would be caused to sink.

From the above it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple and reliable means for caus' ing disabling of a torpedo and termination of its run upon the occurrence of any one of a set of numerous events.

It is obvious that many modifications of the present invention may be made in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention may be practiced other- Wise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed is:

In a torpedo including a plurality of electrically operated components including a main propulsion motor, the improvements comprising a master relay, contactors actuated by said master relay for controlling the energization of said components, said contactors being closed in the energized condition of said master relay and open in the deenergized condition to deenergize and therefore incapacitate said components, the torpedo including depth steering surfaces and mechanism for actuating said surfaces, further normally open contactors actuated by said master relay and in electrical circuit with said mechanism, said last mentioned contactors being actuated to their closed condition upon deenergization of the master relay, said mechanism being operative in the closed condition of said last mentioned contactors to actuate said depth steering surfaces to rise angle, a voltage source, an electrical circuit for placing the coil of said master relay in electrical series with said source and including a plurality of normally closed contacts in series with said coil whereby opening of any one of said contacts will cause deenergization of said master relay, a relay device for operating each of said contacts, said relay devices each being in a selected one the torpedo control system circuits whereby upon the existence of one or more than one of a set of predetermined operating conditions, a respective one or respective ones of said relay devices will become operative to actuate its respective contact to the open position and effect deenergization of said master relay.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,665,086 Moog Jan. 5, 1954 

